Richfield Springs man killed in Columbia accident

A Richfield Springs man died at the scene of a two-car motor vehicle accident on Monday afternoon.

State police said they are investigating the accident that occurred at 3:10 p.m. on State Route 28 in the town of Columbia, where driver Conrad Lupardo, 70, was traveling southward.

By Staff reports

The Times

By Staff reports

Posted May. 2, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 2, 2012 at 2:20 AM

By Staff reports

Posted May. 2, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 2, 2012 at 2:20 AM

Town of Columbia, N.Y.

A Richfield Springs man died at the scene of a two-car motor vehicle accident on Monday afternoon.

State police said they are investigating the accident that occurred at 3:10 p.m. on State Route 28 in the town of Columbia, where driver Conrad Lupardo, 70, was traveling southward.

Steven Allen, 48, of Ilion, was traveling northward on Route 28 near the intersection of Sarafin Road when he failed to keep right and crossed the center line and collided head on with Lupardo’s vehicle within the west shoulder of the road, state police said.

Upon impact, Lupardo’s vehicle exited the road off the west shoulder and rolled over an embankment and traveled approximately 130 feet before it came to rest, state police said.

Lupardo was pronounced dead at the scene by Herkimer County Coroner Harry Enea.

Allen was transported by West Winfield Ambulance to a Utica hospital with non-life threatening injuries, state police said.

Also responding to the scene were the Cedarville, Mohawk and West Winfield fire departments. It took firefighters about 40 minutes to extricate one of the victims from the vehicle. Initial reports stated a helicopter was requested at first, but could not respond due to heavy fog in the area.

Shortly after the accident occurred, authorities blocked off Route 28 at Jordanville Road and at Getman Corners as emergency personnel attended the scene. Roads were closed for nearly two hours, from 4:54 to 7 p.m., according to state police.

State police accident reconstruction personnel were called to the scene and the investigation into the details of the accident is continuing. No further information was available on Tuesday.